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India’s foodgrain output is likely to hit a record 271.98 million tonnes in the 2016-17 crop year ending June, buoyed by good monsoon after two years of drought.
Wheat, rice, pulses, coarse cereals and oil seed production are all set to surpass previous record, as per the agriculture ministry’s second estimate.
Foodgrain production had declined to 251.57 million tonnes (mt) last year because of drought while the previous record was 265.04 million tonnes in 2013-14.
“As a result of very good rainfall during monsoon 2016 and various policy initiatives taken by the government, the country has witnessed record foodgrain production in the current year,” the ministry said in a statement.
As per the second estimate, rice output is pegged at 108.86 mt for 2016-17 crop year (July-June) as against 104.41 mt last year. The previous record was 106.65 mt in 2013-14.
Wheat output is projected to be 96.64 mt this year as against 92.29 mt in 2015-16. It may be noted that last year’s wheat output has been revised downwards from 93.50 mt. The previous record was 95.85 mt achieved in 2013-14 crop year.
In the case of pulses, the output is projected to be all-time high at 22.14 mt this year as against actual output of 16.35 mt last year. The previous record was 19.25 mt in 2013-14.
The output, however, is still short of the country’s estimated demand of 23-24 million tonnes. But the likely rise in output will reduce the country’s dependence on imports.
Coarse cereal output is estimated to be a record 44.34 mt this year as against 38.52 mt last year. The previous record was 43.40 mt in 2013-14.
The foodgrain basket comprises wheat, rice, pulses and coarse cereals.
Oilseed production is also pegged at a record 33.60 mt this year with soyabean output likely to be 14.13 mt, groundnut 8.47 mt and castorseed 1.74 mt.
Last year, oilseed output was 25.25 mt and the previous record was 32.75 mt in 2013-15.
Among cash crops, cotton output is estimated at 32.51 million bales (of 170 kg each) this year, as against 30 million bales last year.
However, sugarcane output is likely to be lower at 309.98 mt this year as against 348.44 mt last year, while jute and mesta output is estimated to be lower at 10.06 million bales (of 180 kg each) as against 10.52 million bales last year.
The government releases total four estimates on foodgrains production before the final one at different stages of production and harvesting period.
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